You just have to love a good ol’ Texas event where even pistols are blinged out in glass glitter!!!

Sweet Jennifer with her class sample for the Patriotic Banner class I took, I loved it!

July was full of visits from friends, concerts, weddings, family, senior & 50th Anniversary sessions & another trip to Dallas later in the month.  If July 1 was any indication as to how the rest of the month was going to go then YOWZA.  I spent the day in rainy San Antonio with my friend Jodi and we got to hang with her very favorite band, the All-American Rejects.  Don’t believe me?  I have proof and yea, it looks like I put the guy next to me asleep……..ah well……..

I usually don’t get all crazy fan-girly but even I must say that was on amazing crazy experience!  I mean really, it’s not everyday a regular Joe mom like me gets to hang with a rock band.  Heck, they even took us on a tour of their amazing tour bus.  Don’t be hatin’.  I was able to hang with Jodi again later in July at her beautiful wedding reception in Austin at the Umlauf Sculpture Gardens which were so beautiful & amazing despite it being an ultra hot & sticky July Texas day.  I loved seeing her so happy and it was wonderful seeing old friends again……

Gotta get a pretty ring shot!!

I did a military family shoot on a balmy summer evening at the lovely Japanese Tea Gardens which is always a fun but interesting experience.  Going there is a total crap shoot because you never know how many people will be there or how many other photo sessions will be going on at the same time.  I’ve gone there when the place was vacant & have also been there when it’s packed and at least 5 other photo sessions are being held, you just never know!  This particular evening was quite crowded but we managed to find secluded spots to shoot.

Next came a shoot I was excited about since it was a bit different than most others I do.  I’d been asked to shoot a 50th Anniversary party for a sweet local couple.  Friends & family came in from near & far to celebrate their special day with them and their daughters hired me to preserve the day in print for them.  I was quite honored to be a small part of their day.  The mother was especially touched since all of the family hadn’t been together in quite some time, she was brought to tears which of COURSE made me cry too.  I can’t help it.

The wedding topper off their wedding cake, 50 years ago to the day.  Beautiful.

July ended with another trip north up I-35 to downtown Dallas and the next Gilded Life event at the beautiful home of Shea Fragoso but I’m going to stop here because that event deserves a blog post all it’s own!  I was honored to be asked to photograph the event for Debbie & Shea and thankfully I’ll be able to share some of the images here with all of you!  Check back soon & I’ll share some of their lovely eye candy with YOU!! 

**I still have a couple of time slots left for the Boudior mini-shoots I’m doing at my studio in downtown New Braunfels this saturday.  I have a 2:00 & 3:00pm time slot left so please reply here or contact me via the contact form above if you have questions or would like to book your own session.  You can find more information here.  They’re going to be SO much fun so don’t miss out!!**

Quick reminder about my Boudior sessions coming up next month on the 21st.  Pro make-up, safe secure studio usage, champagne, fun times, pretty pics, all of your images in high resolution on a disc for you to have forever and $50 in print credit all for $300!!  3 spots are taken so call or reply soon if you’re interested so you don’t miss out!  These make great birthday, anniversary or Christmas presents for your honey.  I did this for my hubby for our anniversary last year and he was thrilled since he knows how much I don’t really like to have my picture taken (although I adore taking pics of others, go figure!) so if you’re looking for a gift that’ll knock his socks off then this is IT!

I had been coveting one of these beauties ever since Maile made the announcement of her exciting new business venture so it was very thrilling to be holding her vision in my hands!  Of the choices she offers, I selected Belle since I normally go for the practical color!  This time I thought I’d choose something different and fun plus I loved the outside pockets, I’ve already gotten so many compliments on her.  Here are some of the other styles & colors available…….

Belle has more than enough room for my 5D with the battery grip and large lens attached, my flash, 2 extra lenses and other accessories I lug around and even with all of that, there is a bit of extra room inside, enough that I could easily fit my wallet & cell phone in there and just use it as a purse. 

Somehow I just feel more fancy toting this back & forth to shoots & the studio rather than my industrial rather manly Canon backpack I previously used!  I will keep my backpack too because it’s nice to fill that up and throw it on my back and keep my hands free when traveling with the boys in tow however for day to day use I love my Belle!  It was obvious that a artsy girl designed these bags due to the little “extras” such as the blingy camera charm that hangs on the front, the bright green protective bag Belle arrived in and the cute little inspirational cards tucked into the pockets just waiting to be found……

 I think that Belle and I are going to get along very very well. 

On a business note, 2011 senior sessions have already begun!  I shot my first senior session yesterday and really love pro-active parents who want to book their kid’s sessions and get them out of the way before the busy senior school year begins and activities resume.  For those of you who BOOK your senior session before Sept. 30 (it doesn’t have to be shot before then) I will include 50 free photo “411″ cards which are cute little business cards with the senior’s photo on one side and information on the other which can include phone #, email address, myspace or facebook profile link, etc. that they can hand out to friends.  This is a $40+ value so call today to book your senior’s session and don’t miss out on this offer!

Thanks for stopping by!  I have more to post so I hope you’ll stop in often & say hello!!  Stay tuned for information on a day of Boudoir sessions I’ll be doing sometime in early August at my studio.  I’ll provide a makeup artist, a private fun location & fruity drinks so all you’ll have to do is show up & have FUN!

The weather on our trip started out looking like this.  NOT good, not good at all. 

After a bumpy night at sea, thankfully we awoke to a lovely morning! (I was having a Titanic moment at the front of the ship taking this photo!)

We toured the ship and decided it was time to heard to the pool like everyone else since we were still out at sea….

We staked out our spots around the pool and soaked in some rays since it was still cool & rainy back home…..

…..and this is pretty much where I stayed for most of the day since it was cool & rainy back home.

The next day we headed into Cozumel for bus tour.  Plenty to see but few beautiful photo ops unfortunately, I had to see beauty where I could find it.  In a lone palm tree….

In the eyes of my oldest son…..

Even found beauty in a case of old Coca Cola bottles in a small village……

Even found beauty in this huge lizard who was sunbathing & quite camouflaged in this small Mexican village model….

And in a small local souvenir stand…….

And all too quickly our day was over and it was time to head back to the ship and back home to reality.  *sigh*

Bye Carnival Ecstasy, we’re going to miss you and your 24 hr. pizza buffet!

Please email or call me if you need canvas pricing or information on how to order.  Remember, I do accept credit cards via PayPal!

My oldest son attended his first high school prom this past weekend and it was quite the event around here!  It was our first experience with renting a tux, ordering the perfect corsage, making sure everything matched and on top of that, he and all of his friends came back here to the house after prom to hang out which was great with me!  It made for a late night but I loved knowing where they were & that they were ok.  It was also my son’s first experience of driving into downtown San Antonio along with his date and another couple but evidently he did great so I’m one relieved mama.  I met up with some of the kids to take some pics before they headed to dinner before prom and I appreciate the opportunity they gave me to capture precious memories for our photo album & scrapbook!  It was gusty & spitting rain but they were troopers & we made it work……..

What a stunning group of people I’d say!  This is my son & his date……

Just a reminder that I am accepting sessions throughout the summer.  We’ll be gone for a few weekends here & there but for the most part I’ll be around this summer so don’t hesitate to call & book your session!  It’s SO nice to have the option of the studio this summer so we’ll have a nice, cool place to shoot.  I’m going to be scheduling a weekend of boudior shoots later this summer so keep that in the back of your mind if you’ve been contemplating something like that.  The images would make great birthday or Christmas gifts for your honey, I did this for my husband for our 20th wedding anniversary last year and they knocked his socks off (in a GOOD way thankfully!).

Thank you for choosing Brown-Eyed Girl, Erin……I wish you ALL the luck in the world!

I have a couple of seniors left to do and think that’ll be it for the season.  It’s just getting too late before graduation and my own boys are keeping me busy with end of the school year activities but I am accepting bookings for other types of sessions that don’t need to be done lickety-split!  Thanks for stopping by!!

I wanted to post some senior sneak peeks for some sweet new friends of mine, Katy & Tracy.  They hired me without knowing me and I’m so grateful they did because we’ve become fast friends because of our mutual love on antiques and all things vintage!  Tracy likes to hit estate sales & that’s something I’ve been wanting to do for the longest time so hopefully she can show me the ropes sometime and I’ll find out about all the fun and vintagey goodness I’ve been missing out on.  Katy is graduating from Steele this year and is heading to Seguin to attend college so thankfully she won’t be too far away from home!  Best of luck to you, Katy Beth, I wish you all the luck & happiness the world has to offer!!

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